Fiance arrived now what?

[Steven 0]

My fiance arrived feb 3, 2007. I need to know what steps we need to take now. We are getting married later today . I just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes risking her being able to stay. I searched the forums but it was all very confusing for me.

Steve

[Minya's wife 24]

My fiance arrived feb 3, 2007. I need to know what steps we need to take now. We are getting married later today . I just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes risking her being able to stay. I searched the forums but it was all very confusing for me.

Steve

Once you are married and have your marriage license...you will need to file for your fiance to Adjust Status. Start by reading this guide for what forms you will need to file. There is also other information on the Guides page that you may want to look at. Good luck!

-P

[Keith & Xiang 0]

My fiance arrived feb 3, 2007. I need to know what steps we need to take now. We are getting married later today . I just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes risking her being able to stay. I searched the forums but it was all very confusing for me.

Steve

Getting married would be a very good first step. Seriously though, you will need to think about submitting the AOS (Adjustment of Status) package. If she'll want to work or travel outside of the United States you'll want to apply for an Employment Authorization (EAD) and I think that the travel part is referred to as an AP.

You'll need an employer letter, paycheck stubs, tax returns, and other documents. It would be best to have a joint bank account with her, have her on your lease or mortgage, utility bills, whatever you can to show that the marriage is true and that you cohabitate with each other.

Congratulations on your marriage and may your AOS be swift.

Keith & Xiang

[Steven 0]

Thanks for the help I have a question as well about the visa that I havent seen any answers for. Her k1 expires at the end of may. Yet the aos timetables list times far past that for approval. Should I have recieved anything in the mail??

Steve

[Minya's wife 24]

Thanks for the help I have a question as well about the visa that I havent seen any answers for. Her k1 expires at the end of may. Yet the aos timetables list times far past that for approval. Should I have recieved anything in the mail??

Steve

Your fiance, soon to be wife's K-1 will expire 90 days after her entry into this country. Within that time you must marry and file for to Adjust Status(AOS). The filing of AOS must be done rather soon after the marriage and w/in the 90 days allotted. (A little delay will not make too much of a difference, but you should try to file before the 90 days are up.)

The AOS timetables will vary depending on the service center, luck, and your particular case. Once you have the AOS filed and USCIS receives it and sends you the NOA1 (notification that they received your petition and are working on it) your wife will not be "out of status" because there is a petition on file for her to adjust status.

I'm not sure what you mean by "should i have received anything in the mail?" What are you expecting to receive. USCIS will not prompt you with mailing anything to adjust status of a K-1 visa holder. The onus is on you do comply with the requirements of your visa.

Good luck.

-P

[jjrbus 0]

Your fiancees visa does not "expire" You have fufilled the conditions of the visa by getting married within the 90 days! The next step is to file for an "adjustment of status (AOS)" Also at the same time if you want her to work file for an "employment authorization document (EAD) ". Unless the law has changed you do not need to file for the AOS withinn 90 days. But it will take a long time, ours took 1 year. So the sooner you start the better!

Should I have received anything in the mail? No

[*JG* 2]

Here is what I can remember we did:

Marriage license

Married

Added him to my health insurance, made him my beneficiary on life insurance

AOS filed

Once AOS was approved:

social security card

Missouri State ID

Casino card (this one makes me smile!)

applied for jobs and got one

Driver's permit

Put him on bank account

Changed insurance and beneificiary information to reflect Social Security number

Put important (hard to replace documents) in our safe deposit box: Passport, marriage certificate, and birth certificate

Our next step is the driver's license test and license.

Done for a few years then.

[Steven 0]

I was reading http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...229&hl=this thread and I seen this there

In Secondary, info will be entered into the computer and a few random questions may come out (how long married, where are you going etc). You may want to confirm your US mailing address here. You'll give a fingerprint and autograph (for the Green Card) and the visa in your passport will be stamped aka endorsed. This endorsement is the equivilant of your Green Card and serves as evidence of your status as a Permanent Resident. You can travel with this stamp as a Permanent Resident until you get your Green Card. Hopefully someone will tell you "Welcome to America" as they give you instructions about removing conditions in 2 years (ideally & if applicable).

You are now a Permanent Resident! The Green Card and Social Security card will be mailed to you within 4 weeks.

And to be honest it had me very worried I thought maybe I missed some important mail!! Now I believe that is just for the direct consular filed marriages.

Steve

[meauxna 15]

I was reading http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...229&hl=this thread and I seen this there <snip>

And to be honest it had me very worried I thought maybe I missed some important mail!! Now I believe that is just for the direct consular filed marriages.

Steve

hey Steve, I wrote that post--I'm sorry it stressed you out! You noticed that it's in the DCF Forum, and the early line says it's for arriving on an Immigrant Visa (CR/IR) so you have not missed out on anything yet!

Unfortunately, you won't get all that good stuff automagically; you're going to have to go at it piece by piece.

I like Jomo Girl's list! You can re-order it tho--many of these things can be done sooner.

These things can be done before AOS approval. AOS may take 6+ months to complete; after AOS approval, you are a Permanent Resident (and should check out the links in my siggy!)

social security card: K-1s must apply in their first 76 days here. Apply in maiden name, and there is no need to mention marriage if it's done. Update to married name later in the game.

Missouri State ID: can often be obtained before AOS with SS# and other locally required dox.

applied for jobs and got one: Before AOS, only with an EAD--this will vary by individual

Driver's permit: see ID note above--possible to get this before AOS is approved.

Put him on bank account: Again, a SS# will make this easier, but you CAN be added to or open a bank account without an SS#.

Changed insurance and beneificiary information to reflect Social Security number

Done for a few years then. WooHoo! Also see my link for How To Remove Conditions--this is the step you do 21 months after AOS/Green Card approval.

Edited April 5, 2007 by meauxna

[*JG* 2]

I was reading http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...229&hl=this thread and I seen this there <snip>

And to be honest it had me very worried I thought maybe I missed some important mail!! Now I believe that is just for the direct consular filed marriages.

Steve

hey Steve, I wrote that post--I'm sorry it stressed you out! You noticed that it's in the DCF Forum, and the early line says it's for arriving on an Immigrant Visa (CR/IR) so you have not missed out on anything yet!

Unfortunately, you won't get all that good stuff automagically; you're going to have to go at it piece by piece.

I like Jomo Girl's list! You can re-order it tho--many of these things can be done sooner.

These things can be done before AOS approval. AOS may take 6+ months to complete; after AOS approval, you are a Permanent Resident (and should check out the links in my siggy!)

social security card: K-1s must apply in their first 76 days here. Apply in maiden name, and there is no need to mention marriage if it's done. Update to married name later in the game.

Missouri State ID: can often be obtained before AOS with SS# and other locally required dox.

applied for jobs and got one: Before AOS, only with an EAD--this will vary by individual

Driver's permit: see ID note above--possible to get this before AOS is approved.

Put him on bank account: Again, a SS# will make this easier, but you CAN be added to or open a bank account without an SS#.

Changed insurance and beneificiary information to reflect Social Security number

Done for a few years then. WooHoo! Also see my link for How To Remove Conditions--this is the step you do 21 months after AOS/Green Card approval.

Not sure what state he is in; but in St. Louis, Missouri, how I posted things was exactly how they allowed us to do them. We hit more brick walls trying to do things in a more speedy order then you can imagine.

Check with your state and individual institutions and their rules before you make plans.

[Jasman0717 9]

Congratulations on your marriage. Start reading the AOS guide now and ask if you have questions. Good luck

[meauxna 15]

Not sure what state he is in; but in St. Louis, Missouri, how I posted things was exactly how they allowed us to do them. We hit more brick walls trying to do things in a more speedy order then you can imagine.

Check with your state and individual institutions and their rules before you make plans.

How do you mean? I wonder if it wasn't the SS#--without that, many of the other things aren't possible, it's true.

That's why it is important for K-1s to get their SS# as soon as they can.

[JenT 0]

My fiance arrived feb 3, 2007. I need to know what steps we need to take now. We are getting married later today . I just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes risking her being able to stay. I searched the forums but it was all very confusing for me.

Steve

Once you are married and have your marriage license...you will need to file for your fiance to Adjust Status. Start by reading this guide for what forms you will need to file. There is also other information on the Guides page that you may want to look at. Good luck!

-P

Correction... you need a mariage license before you get married. You will then get a marriage certificate that you will need to file AOS.

[*JG* 2]

Not sure what state he is in; but in St. Louis, Missouri, how I posted things was exactly how they allowed us to do them. We hit more brick walls trying to do things in a more speedy order then you can imagine.

Check with your state and individual institutions and their rules before you make plans.

How do you mean? I wonder if it wasn't the SS#--without that, many of the other things aren't possible, it's true.

That's why it is important for K-1s to get their SS# as soon as they can.

Oh, I have no doubt it was the SSN. And, we tried to apply for it immediately...website, called, went up there, all I heard was NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Was told had to wait for the green card first (or EAD, whichever came first...our case green card). After that, applied for SSN and all was smooth sailing after.

That's why I am saying check with your individual state and institutions before you make plans. You get so excited to think things are finally moving along, only to have to wait months more for everything to fall into place.

[meauxna 15]

Oh, I have no doubt it was the SSN. And, we tried to apply for it immediately...website, called, went up there, all I heard was NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I'm sorry there was no one to help you during that time.. the SSA sometimes needs a gentle re-education (Or a severe buttwhipping) and they done you wrong. Great to read all your forward news now, though!